You’ve just arrived in a swampy, dim town. As you look around, your gaze is met with shacks and cabins. It smells of rotted wood and wet moss. You duck and step into a tattered tent, illuminated by a series of candles suspended in the air. At the back of the tent, an old hag raises her head, “What brings you to this dingy town? she begins, then pauses to study your face—”Ah, it’s you. I’ve been expecting you. Sit,” she gestures at a cushion, “Tell me your story.”
Winona hesitantly peers around inside, the glow of the candles casting eerie shadows across her face. Her little heart beats faster as she spots the old hag at the back of the tent. Her arms wrap around her body seeking comfort, wishing she had brought a cloak to hide under. Clearing her throat from days of unuse, Winona manages to respond, "Oh, 'ello. I, uh, didn't really mean to come 'ere, but, um, I guess I got curious."
Seeing the cushions the hag had gestured towards, Winona shuffles forwards hesitantly before lowering herself onto the cushion. The dim light and the gaze of the hag make her feel out of place. "I've never been to a place like this before," Winona admits cautiously. "I've never been this far from my home." Her eyes dart around the tent, too uncomfortable to make direct eye contact with the hag. Despite her fear and discomfort a glimmer of curiosity, usually reserved for petty gossip, remains within her, the desire to understand what's happening and why they seem to be apart of this mysterious encounter.
The old hag notes her obvious fear and with a knowing smile that barely touches the corner of her lips she says, "Being far from home can be unsettling, indeed," the hags voice carries a hint of empathy, "But sometimes, the most transformative journeys begin with a step away from the familiar. You see, there are whispers in the wind, and echoes in the shadows, and they've brought you here for a reason."
Winona didn't know about the whispers or echoes the hag spoke about, she simply longed for the comfort of her home by the river.
The hag continued before Winona could get lost in her thoughts of home, "Your story, my dear, is like a tapestry yet to be woven. Each thread holds a piece of who you are and who you may become. So if you're willing, sit a while longer and share your tale. For in the sharing, there is often a revelation, a connection that can illuminate the path ahead. Now tell me your story"
"Oh, well, um, thank you for saying that." Winona wasn't really sure what the hag was on about, but she thought it polite to thank her. "It's just that, you know, I've always been comfortable near my home by the river. The sound of water and the rustling leaves... it's, uh, it's what i'm used to. I'm from Brandybrook, near..." she struggled slightly to remember the elven kingdom's name, "Aegrothond." Winona's gaze momentarily shifts to the candles in the air, their soft glow contrasting with the dimness of the tent. "But, um, I suppose you're right, curiosity can be quite strong. I like to observe the village while sitting on the docks to watch what's going on around me. Who's doing what and why, y'know?" She dared to glance at the hag who continued to stare at her intently. Winona chuckled uncomfortably, "Well I can be a bit nosy."
"I do love insects," Winona continues, her voice slightly more animated. "Particularly bees. They're fascinating creatures, you know. Always so busy and organized, working together to make something sweet and special. I used to spend hours watching them in the wildflowers along the riverbanks. It, um, made me feel connected to something bigger."
Her voice trails off for a moment... "But being away from home, well, it's a bit overwhelming." Winona really thought it was terrifying sitting in a tent with this hag, but she thought it would be rude to say so. "Everything here feels so different, and I'm not quite sure where I fit in. Um, your candles are quite lovely, though. They remind me a bit of fireflies, which, uh, always make the night less scary."
"I suppose, if you're interested, I could share a bit about the river and the bees back home," Winona offers the hag a shy smile. "It's not much, but um, it's what I know best."
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